Violence erupts at Greek anti-cuts protest

Police in Athens fired teargas to disperse protesters throwing petrol bombs and stones outside parliament, where lawmakers were due to vote on a package of deeply unpopular austerity cuts.

The violence came as thousands of Greeks marched to the main square in front of the parliament building in protest against the spending cuts and reforms essential to unlocking further aid for the country.

As evening fell, Greeks holding flags and banners adorned with slogans like "It's them or us!" and "End this disaster!" packed the area. More than 70,000 protesters poured into the streets of Athens in one of the largest rallies in months, police said.